Manufacture of glassware



No. 609,704. Patented Aug.\23, |893.

n n. RIPLEY. l

MANUFACTURE 0F GLASSWABE.

(Application led Nov. 4, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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RC o T NA E No. 609,704. Patented Aug. 23, |898.

n. c. RIPLEY. MANUFACTURE 0F GLASSWAHE.

'(App`1iaein mea Nov. 4, 1897.) 4 (N0 Mddel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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DANIEL C. RIPLEY, OF PIPTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

MANUFACTLJRE OFGLASSWARE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 609,704, dated August23, 1898.

Application filed November 4,1897. `Serial No. 657,362. (No model.) l lTo cir/ZZ whom it may con/cern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL C. RIPLEY, al citizen of the United States,residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have inventedor discovered certain new and usefulImprovements in the Manufacture of Glassware, of which improvements thefollowingis a specification.`

The invention described herein relates ,tol certain improvements in themanufacture of` articles of glassware, such as lantern-globes, jars,vaseline-bottles,&c. and the invention has for its object a constructionand arrange-` ment of mechanism whereby a blank can be pressed to shapein one mold and then transferred in a vertical direction to anothermold, Where the blank is blown to the desire' shape.

In general terms the invention consists in the construction andcombination .substantially as hereinafter more fully describeda'ndclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure l is a sectional elevation of my improved pressing and yblowingapparatus. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view, the plane of sectionbeing indicated by the line II II, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a sectional detailView, the plane of section being indicated by the line III III, Fig. 2.Fig.` 3 is a sectional elevation illustrating a modified construction ofthe blow-mold and coveringcap. Fig. 4: is a view similar to Fig. l,illustrating certain modifications. Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view, theplane of sectionbeing indicated by the line V V,"Figl` e. Fig. 6 is adetail view of the mold-ring, and Fig. 7 is a View illustrating amodication in the construction of the blank-guide.

In the practice of my invention the operating mechanism is preferablycarried on a stand l, provided with wheels 2 to permit of the machinebeing easily shifted from place to place.

A central post or standard 3 is secured in suitable sockets ,formed inor secured to the stand l, as shown in Fig. l. A fluid-pressure cylinder5, provided with valve mechanism adapted to be operated by thehand-lever G, is adj ustably secured to the central post or standard 3.To the piston-rod of the cylinder 5 is secured a plunger 7, and aroundthis plunger is placed the mold-closing ring S,

`movably supported by the frame 9, attached to the piston-rod in theusual manner. A shoulder or bracket l0 is adjustably secured to thecentral post or standard below the cylinder and plunger. This bracket orshoulder is provided with a radialslot, and in said slot is placed themold-rin'gllv The body portion of this ring projects' below the shelf orbracket and is supported in 'position by flanges resting upon thebracket along the edges of the slot. The slotted shelf or bracket ismade of such a length as to permit of the shifting of the mold-ring froma position immediately below the plunger 7 to such a distance outside ofthe plunger as to allow of the placing of a mass of glass in the mold.

A second bracket provided with arms 12 and 13 is secured to the centralpost or standard below the bracket or shelf l0. The arm 12 serves as asupport for the press-mold 14, which is of the usual or any suitableconstruction. The two brackets are arranged such a .distance apart thatthe arm l2 will support the mold llll in such relation to the mold-ringl1 that the mold can be closed around the mold-ring whilel the latter issupported in the slotted bracket`l0. l In using the apparatus thus fardescribed the mold 14. is moved out along the bracket `12 to such aposition as to permit the operator depositing glass therein through themoldring. The mold is then moved back into line with the plunger 7,which is forced down to shape the blank in the mold. After the plungerhas/been withdrawn the mold and ring are moved out until the axis of themoldmatrix is in line with the axis of a mold l5, supported upon arotating bed 16 below the arm l2. As soon as the mold, 14 has reachedthis position it is opened, so as to permit the blanket, formed by thepressing operation, to drop through an opening in the arm l2 and intothe blow-mold l5. A

In order that the blank may drop truly into the mold l5, it may be heldfrom lateral or vertical movement, if found to be necessary, until themold llt has been opened sufficiently far to permit of the passage ofthe blank without striking against any part of the mold. In order insuch case to support the blank during the opening of the mold let, anysuitable form of catch adapted to grasp the portion of the blank withinthe mold-ring may be employed-such, for example, as that shown in Figs.1 and 3-and consisting of pins 17, arranged in openings in the mold-ringl1 below the bracket 10 and held by springs 18, so that their inner endswill project a short distance inside of the inner surface ofthemold-ring, thereby permitting of the glass of the blank being pressedaround these projecting ends. These pins can be Withdrawn to release theblank after the opening of the mold in any desired manner; but in orderto render the operation of the parts as nearly automatic as possible itis preferred that the p ins should be moved outwardly to release theblanks by the mold-sections as they are moved outwardly from around theblank. This purpose or result can be attained by forming iingers on theends of the pin, said fingers projectingint-o the path of movement ofthe moldsections while being opened. The opening of the mold and thewithdrawal of the pins 17 in the manner stated will permit the blank todrop into the blow-mold l5. The rapidity of movement of the blank a willbe checked as it enters the blowmold by the air contained thereinforming a cushion and allowing the blank to settle slowly into position.This will prevent the blank from being distorted or injured by impactwith the walls' of the blow-mold cavity. The bed 1G is rotatably mountedon the stand l and around the central post or standard 3, so that assoon as a blank has been dropped into the blow-mold the latter can beshifted by rotating the table under a blowing mechanism carriedl by thearm 13. As shown in Fig. 1, this blowing apparatus or mechanism consistsof a concave or flanged plate 19, arranged in an opening in the arm 13,so as to be capable of movement in order to seat its flanges against apacking-ring 20, preferably formed of asbestos and arranged in anundercut groove in the upper end of the blow-mold.

The plate 19 is provided with an opening Whose edges are suitably shapedto form a seat for the valve 21, having a stem 22 extending upwardlythrough a sleeve 23, formed on the cap 24, closing the upper end of theair-chamber 25,' formed on the top of the plate 19. I The sleeve 23passes up through a guide-socket 26, formed of an arm secured to thecentral post or standard 3, and the stem 22 passes up through the sleeve23. The plate 19 is held in its raised position by a spring 27,interposed between the upper side of the guide-socket 26 and a shoulder28, secured to the valve stem. This spring 27 holds the valve 2l in itsseat and also supports' the plate 19 in its raised position.

In order tohold the valve closed while the plate 19 is being moved downagainst the blowmold, a spring 29 is interposed between the upper end ofthe sleeve 23 and the shoulder 2S. The plate 19 is moved down and thevalve 21 opened by means of a lever 30, having one end pivoted` to anarm formed on the guide-socket 26 and bearing upon the shoulder 28. Itwill be readily understood that as said lever is moved down and as thesleeve 23 and plate 19 are free to move the first movement of the leverwill compress the spring 27 and force the plate 19 onto the blow-mold.As' soon as this plate is seated the continued movement of the lever 30will also compress the spring 29 and move the valve 21 from its seat.

A longitudinal opening is formed through the stem 23, which is connectedto a pipe 31, leading to any suitable source of Huid-pressure, and alateral opening in the stem permits the escape of iluid into thepressurechamber 25, whence it will escape into the mold as soon as thevalve is unseated.

As soon as a blank is deposited in the blowmold in the manner abovedescribed the press-mold 14 is closed, a quantity of glass placedtherein, and the mold slipped under the plunger, whereby the glass iscompressed or shaped by the descent of the plunger. The mold 14 is thenmoved out and opened in the manner described to permit the new blank todrop into another blow-mold which has been brought into position underthe opening in the arm 12 by the movement of the table which carried thefirst blow-mold under the blowing mechanism. derstood that the pressingof a new blank will be effected during the blowing of the iirst blank.

The devices above described bywhich to secure the accurate movement ofthe blank from one mold to the other are not to be considered asessential, but merely as convenient accessories, to be employed when onaccount of the peculiar conditions of the glass or peculiar shapes to bemade or for other reasons the use of such devices may be advantageous.Ordinarily and especially in the manufacture of plain articles ofglassware-such as fruitjars, jelly-glasses, vaseline-bottles, and evenregular threaded articles-such accessory devices may usually be omitted,so that on a quick-opening movement of the press-mold the blank willdrop vertically and in a practically straight line under the influenceof gravity directly from the cavity of the pressmold into the cavity ofthe blow-mold, being sufficiently cushioned in its fall by the airalready in the blow-mold and partially restrained as regards its escapeas the blank comes to its lowest position. This cushioning effect-willordinarily be sufficient to prevent the hot plastic blank from beingdistorted or otherwise injured by impact with the walls of the blow-moldcavity, and such manner of working the invention is expressly includedherein.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 1 it will be observed that theblow-mold is made of such a length relative'to the height of the articleto be formed that the upper end or It will be unco9, 704 s neck ot thearticle will project beyond the mold. A chamber c is formed around thisprojecting end by the plate 19, having a cavity on its under side whichextends over and around the upper end of the blank. This chamber caround the upper end or neck of the blank in the blow-mold can beobtained by making the blow-mold of a length equal to or greater thanthat of the article to be formed and then enlarging the mold-cavityabove the shoulder, which supports the blank prior to the blowingoperation, as shown in Fig. 3. With such a construction of blowmold theunder side of the plate 19 may be made lat or only slightly concave. Theeffect of this chamber, the manner of forming which is immaterial, is tomake provision for the presence of air under pressure uniformly on theoutside and inside of the upper open end of the blank, and consequentlyif such upper open end be threaded or receives in the press-moldpeculiar shape, or even if it be lett perfectly cylindrical, suchfinished shape will be retained, or, in other words, the airpressureinside and outside being the same, such upper open end will retainwithout material change or distortion the finished shape and size whichwere given to it in the press-mold. Hence the open cavity on the underside of the plate 19 by which this result is secured is one of theimportant features of my invention; but as it may be desirable in somecases to make special provision by which to preserve the pressed shapeof the threaded or other specially-shaped upper end portion of the blankI provide therefor a guiding device (to be used when necessary) forkeeping the blank and mold-ring in proper alinement while moving fromthe` press-mold to the blow-mold. `This guiding device consists of a rod32, arranged in suitable guide-arms 33, attached to any suitablesupport, as the pressing-cylinder when the latter is used toaetuatetheplunger. These arms are of such a length that the axis of the rod 32will be in line with the axis of the blow-mold when in position underthe opening in the arm 12. This guide-rod 32 can be detachably connectedin any suitable manner to the mold-ring 11. A convenient means fordetachably connecting the rod 32 to the mold-ring consists of prongs orfingers 34, formed on or secured to the lower end of the rod 32 andprovided with inwardly-projecting lugs 35. When the rod is moved down,these lugs will pass through notches 36, formed in the periphery of themold-ring, and by a slight rotation of the rod will pass under shouldersadjacent to the notches and formed by recessing the periphery of thering. In using this guiding device the blank is pressed in the mold 14,as hereinbefore de scribed, and the mold is then moved out over theopening in the arm 12. The guide-rod is then connected to the mold-ringand the mold opened, so as to permit of the lowering of the blank andmold-ring into the blow-mold. As soon as the blank has been lowered intoposition inthe blow-mold the rod 32 is rotated axially to release thelugs 35 from engagement with the mold-ring and the rod raised until itslower end will be a sufficient distance above the press-mold to permitofthe placing of additional quantities of glass therein.

yThe guide-rod 32 can be held in its raised position by any suitablemeans-ms, for example, by a spring 37, secured to one of the arms 33 andbearing at its free end against the guide-rod. The means employed forholding the guide-rod in its raised position can be so constructed oradjusted that the additional weight of a blank and mold-ring willovercome the resistance of such holding means and permit the blank andmold-ring to drop into the blow-mold as soon as the press-mold isopened. After the blank has been placed in position in the blow-mold thetable 16 is rotated, so as to bring the mold under the blowingapparatus,when the operations hereinbefore described are repeated.

As shown in Fig. 7, the guide-rod 32 may be provided with spring-fingers38, adapted to pass into the blank and bear against the inner surfacethereof with sufficient force to support and guide the blank or blankand mold-ring while moving down into the blowmold.

It is a matter of some importance that the cavities in the press andblow molds should beso constructed, as illustrated in Fig. 1, that theupper portion of the blank formed in the ,press-mold, will practicallyclose the upper end of the blow-mold, so as to prevent the air used inblowing from entering between the blank and the walls of theshaping-cavity in the blow-mold. It is also advantageous that theblow-mold should be provided above the shaping-cavity with a suitablemeans, such as a shoulder, adapted to engage the blank when dropped intothe blow-mold and support the blank clear of the shaping-walls of thecavity until expanded by Huid-pressure applied to the interior of theblank.

It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that manychanges and modifications can be made in the apparatus, as shown anddescribed, and the invention is not therefore limited to such specificconstruction.

It is characteristic of my improvement that the opening of thepress-mold in which the blank is formed permits of the quick andautomatic movement of the blank without the necessary use of any guidingdevices into the blow-m old, which can then be quickly shifted under theblowing apparatus and the blank expanded to final shape.

I claim herein as my invention- 1. In an apparatus for the manufactureof glassware, the combination of a pressing mechanism, a press or blankmold, a pressneath the press-mold at the time of and dur- IOO IIO

IIS

mold support, a blow-mold stationary being the movement of the blankfrom the pressmold and a mechanism for blowing the blank,

substantially as set forth.

2. In an apparatus for the manufacture of glassware, the combination ofa pressing mechanism, a blowing mechanism, a pressmold, a press-moldsupport, a blow-mold, and means for shifting the blow-mold to and fromalinement with the press-mold to operative position under the blowingmechanism, substantially as set forth.

3. In an apparatus for manufacturing glassware, the combination ofpressing mechantical dropping movement of the blank from the press tothe blow mold, substantially as set forth.

5. In an apparatus for the manufacture of glassware, the combination ofpressing mechanism, a press or blank mold, having a removable ring, aradially-slotted mold-ring support, a press-mold support, a blow-mold, amovable blow-mold support, said supports being arranged in such relationto each other as to permit of the passage of the blank by a verticalmovement from the press to the blow mold, substantially as set forth.

6. In an apparatus for the manufacture of glassware, the combination ofa sectional mold, a mold-ring,a support for the mold-ring, and means forholding the article in the moldring during the opening of the mold andadapted to be shifted to release the article by the mold-sections whilebeing opened, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a blow-mold having a shaping-cavity and at a pointabove the shaping-cavity provided with means for supporting the blank asagainst too great vertical movement, and a cap or plate provided with aconnection to a suitable source of air under pressure, the cap beingconstructed to form a tight joint with the upper end of the blow-mold,substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of a blow-mold having a shaping-cavity and providedat a point above the shaping-cavity with a shoulder adapted to supportthe blank as against too great vertical movement, and a cap or plateprovided with a connection to a suitable source of air under pressure,the cap being constructed to form a tight joint with the upper end ofthe blow-mold, substantially as set forth.

9. In an apparatus for manufacturing glassware, the combination of apressing mechanism, a press or blank mold movable into and out of linewith the pressing mechanism, a blow-mold, a blow-mold support movable ina plane below the plane of movement of the press-mold, and mechanism forblowing the blank, substantially as set forth.

l0. The combination of a press-mold provided with a blank-shapingcavity, and a blow-mold provided with a shaping-cavity,

the 4upper portions of the cavities in said molds being suitablyproportioned so that the blank formed in the press-mold will close theupper portions of the cavity in the blowmold, substantially as setforth.

l1. The method of transferring plastic pressed glass blanks from thepress-mold in which they are pressed, into a blow-mold preliminary toblowing, by dropping the blank bodily under the infiuence of gravity,through the open bottom of the press-mold into the opentop of theblow-mold, and cushioning its fall by the air partially confined in theblow-mold by the blank as it falls, substantially as described. l p

12. The method of manufacturing articles of glassware, which consists inpressing a blank,transferrin g the blank bodily and while in a plasticcondition, 'by the action of gravity from the press-mold to theblow-mold and expanding the blank to the finished shape by blowing,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

DANIEL C. RIPLEY.

Witnesses:

DARWIN S. WoLcoTT, M. S. MURPHY.

